CHINA: Which Half of Buddha?

Doctrinally, Tibet should be ruled by two
lamas: the Panchen Lama, whom esoteric Tibetans believe to be Buddha's
spiritual reincarnation, and the Dalai Lama, Buddha's temporal
reincarnation. Actually, the Dalai Lama and his priests have been
running Tibet since 1924, when they expelled the Panchen Lama.

Last week the Panchen Lama & Co. were trying to make a comeback, with
spiritual support and a little temporal help from the Chinese
Communists.

To Peking came delegations from both Lama factions, seeking the Red nod.
First to arrive were gum-chewing, felt-hatted retainers of the Dalai
Lama, who in December had fled his capital of...